January 2014 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Calendar

Weekends — Guided Wildlife Tours at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, 3207 Rutherford Road, Gridley (95948). Each walking tour through this premier birding spot highlights the migratory waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. The cost is included in the wildlife area entrance fee. Tours are canceled in the event of heavy rain. No reservations are necessary for groups of less than 12 people. For more information, please call (530) 846-7505 or email Lori.Dieter@wildlife.ca.gov.

Weekends — CDFW Sandhill Crane Wetland Tours at Woodbridge Ecological Reserve. Tours are available each month October through February. They are timed to begin in the late afternoon when the crane “fly-in” for the evening roost can be observed. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/delta/cranetour/ or call (209) 234-3435. Tours fill quickly. Self-guided tours are also available to view the cranes and other wetland birds.

Weekends — Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve. Docent-led walks are scheduled every Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Binoculars and bird books are available for the public to borrow at no cost. The visitor center and main overlook are fully accessible. Day use fee is $4.32 per person, age 16 and older. Groups of 10 or more should schedule a separate tour. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region4/elkhorn.html.

Saturdays — Swan Tours in Yuba County, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. The event explores an area called District 10, a 23,000-acre expanse of privately owned rice fields and restored habitat. This area boasts one of the largest seasonal concentrations of tundra swans in the Central Valley as well as a variety of other species, including ducks, geese, shorebirds, herons, egrets and raptors. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/swantours/.

1 — Online reporting begins for most sport fishing report cards (steelhead, sturgeon, north coast salmon and 2013 spiny lobster). Anglers and divers are required by regulation (CCR, T14, Section 1.74) to return 2013 report cards or report their harvest online by January 31, 2014. The new 2013/2014 Full Season Spiny Lobster Report Cards can be reported online beginning March 20, 2014 and are due by April 30, 2014. Report cards are used by fisheries biologist to set seasons and bag limits for many species. To report your harvest online, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/harvestreporting.

9-12 — International Sportsmen’s Expo at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento (95815). People can visit CDFW displays where staff will answer questions and license sales staff will have all licenses, tags and report cards available for sale. The new 2014 CDFW Warden Stamp will be available for purchase ($5) to help support CDFW enforcement and fund the purchase of equipment. People can visit the enforcement display trailer with a free enclosed laser shot game and a youth fair that will offer youths a chance to catch a fish and experience a variety of outdoor activities with trained instructors. CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham and staff will participate in a public forum Jan. 11 to answer questions and talk about important issues regarding California’s fish and wildlife resources. The fee is $15 for adults, with youths and active military admitted free. For more information, please visit www.sportsexpos.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewlocation&locationnumber=1.

14 — Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop with Yolo Basin Foundation at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, 45211 County Road 32B, Davis (95618), 4 to 5:15 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in the Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the program. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

15 — Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop with American River Natural History Association at Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael (95608), 3:45 to 5 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the program. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

16—Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop staff at Nimbus Hatchery, 2001 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova (95670), 3:45 to 5 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the program. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

23 — Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop with American River Conservancy at American River Nature Center, 348 Highway 49, Coloma (95613), 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in the Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the program. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

25 — Nature Bowl Extended Coaches Workshop with the Placer Nature Center at 3700 Christian Valley Road, Auburn (95602), 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in the Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the year’s program. This extended workshop includes a discussion on getting started and a mock Nature Bowl. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

28 — Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop with Sutter County Resource Conservation District at Southridge Estates, Yuba City Unified School District Board Room, 750 Palora Ave., Yuba City (95991), 3:45 to 5 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in the Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the program. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

29 — Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop with Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Association at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, 1624 Hood Franklin Road, Elk Grove (95624) 4 to 5:15 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in the Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the program. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

30 — Nature Bowl Coaches Workshop with Sutter County Resource Conservation District at Yuba Gardens School, 1964 11th Ave., Olivehurst (95961), 3:45 to 5 p.m. The free workshop is for coaches participating in the Nature Bowl, a cooperative, science-based program for 3rd-6th graders. Coaches will review activities, discuss team formation and receive a resource packet to help their team prepare for the program. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/2/naturebowl/.

31—Deadline to return 2013 sport fishing report cards. Anglers and divers are required by regulation (CCR, T14, Section 1.74) to return their 2013 report cards for abalone, steelhead, sturgeon, north coast salmon and 2013 spiny lobster or report their harvest online by January 31, 2014. The new 2013/2014 Full Season Spiny Lobster Report Cards can be reported online beginning March 20, 2014 and are due by April 30, 2014. Report cards are used by fisheries biologist to set seasons and bag limits for many species. To report your harvest online, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/harvestreporting.